Frode Gjerstad, Paul Hession In November (2003)

In November is a track from the reeds player Frode Gjerstad s and percussionist Paul Hession s duo record May Day, recorded on May 7th, 2003 and released on FMR Records later that year. This release is part of a long series of duos Frode Gjerstad released on that imprint during the 2000s (other duos include reeds players Peter Brotzmann and Sabir Mateen, electronics performer Lasse Marhaug, pipeorganist Nils Henrik Asheim, percussionist Kevin Norton, pianist Borah Bergman, On this particular record, Gjerstad sticks with saxophones, though many of his other records involve clarinet and bass clarinet. There s not much one can say about any given performance or excerpt by players such as these. Both are simply wonderful improvisers who bring a ton of energy and musical sensibility to their performances. Each are worth checking out in pretty much any of the many settings each of them explore. I discovered Gjerstad s music while I was digging deeper into br, br,